The SA Reconciliation Barometer survey is a nationally representative public opinion poll conducted annually by the IJR, which focuses on progress in reconciliation in South Africa. Key issues addressed within the survey include: human security, political culture,  political relationships, dialogue, historical confrontation and race relations.

To find out more about the survey, click here.

To download copies of past SA Reconciliation Barometer reports, follow the links below.

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Tenth Round, 2010

Released in December of 2010, the tenth round of the SA Reconciliation Barometer  found notable improvements in evaluations of reconciliation across many of the six key indicators tested by the survey. However, since the first round was conducted in 2003, perceptions related to human security have declined overall, with potential consequences for social relations. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Ninth Round, 2009

This year’s round of the SARB was conducted in the highly emotive and politically charged run-up to South Africa’s fourth democratic national and provincial elections. The fact that South Africans viewed the division between political parties as one of the most significant social cleavages in the country is therefore a telling reflection on this particular time. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Eight Round, 2008

In a context of global economic decline, this round of the Barometer found South Africans feeling insecure, unsafe and less confident about the future. Trust in public institutions continued to fall from previous levels, highlighting volatility of particular concern in the lead-up to the April 2009 elections. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Seventh Round, 2007

Despite persistent divisions along racial lines, this round of the Barometer found interracial socialisation to be on the increase. However, respondents viewed material inequality as the biggest division in South African society, and economic confidence, physical security and trust in government and leadership all declined. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Sixth Round, 2006

Ten years after the first sitting of the TRC, Barometer findings suggested that white respondents – while still most skeptical about reconciliation – were increasingly optimistic about prospects for a united nation, livelihoods of their families, and the future of their children, converging more closely with the views of black compatriots. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Fifth Round, 2005

The fifth round of the Barometer found growing acceptance of social integration across South Africans, and high levels of support for integrated neighbourhoods and schools. However, almost one-third of respondents had no contact with other race groups on an average day. Confidence in physical safety and optimism about personal economic circumstances also declined. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Fourth Round, 2005

Soon after South Africa celebrated ten years of democracy, Barometer respondents registered high levels of approval for service delivery, and increasing confidence in the trustworthiness and impartiality of Parliament. Yet, half of all respondents indicated a willingeness to circumvent the law – without actually breaking it – and one-third, that sometimes justice could be better achieved without adhering to the law. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Third Round, 2004

The third round of the Barometer showed a slight rise in optimism from the previous round, with South Africans feeling more confident  about their economic, physical and cultural security. Confidence in leadership also increased, although many citizens still felt unable to make leaders listen to their concerns. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: Second Round, 2003

Respondents to this round of the Barometer survey demonstrated an increased commitment to already-high levels confidence in nation-building, in spite of declining levels of contact between races.  Socioeconomic class was identified as the most significant source of division within South African society. Read more…

SA Reconciliation Barometer: First Round, 2003

Barometer findings suggested that government commanded significant commitment, support and confidence from the public, and that South Africans were optimistic about achieving national unity that transcended racial barriers.  However, many respondents retained negative perceptions and stereotypes about people of different races. Read more…

Exploratory Survey, 2003

Welcomed by some, rejected by others, reconciliation has been a notion few South Africans could ignore. This report, based on a nationally representative survey, examined conceptualisations of the nature and processes of reconciliation. Read more…

© Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.